Temperature Regulating Mount

ABSTRACT

A cooling mount for portable electronic devices is provided that includes a cooling unit for preventing portable electronic devices housing the cooling mount from reaching critical temperatures during operation to avoid undesired shut down of the electronic device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation and claims priority to U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 15/826,411 filed Nov. 29, 2017 titled COOLINGMOUNT, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/939,781 filed Nov. 12, 2015 titled COOLING MOUNT (now U.S. Pat. No.9,836,101, issued Dec. 5, 2017), which application claimed priority toU.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/078,085, filed on Nov. 11,2014, titled PORTABLE TABLET COOLING DEVICE, all of which applicationsare incorporated by reference in this application in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a cooling mount for portable electronicdevices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Portable electronic devices, including tablets, such as iPADs, iPAD Airsand iPAD minis; smart phones, such as iPhones and Android phones; cellphones; and personal computers are typically powered by a battery, sothat users may carry them about and use them as needed, including whenoperating a vehicle, such as an aircraft, boat or car. Frequently, thesedevices provide navigation information to users, and for many, such adevice has become a required navigational item. When used to guide theoperation of land, water and aircraft, it can become problematic if thedevice is exposed to extreme heat or direct sunlight. The screen of thedevice, being almost completely black, can get extremely hot if left indirect sun. As a protective measure, the device will shut itself downupon reaching a critical temperature and stay shut down until it coolsoff. The primary reason for this is to protect the tablet's internalbattery. If the device is the primary source for navigation, it canbecome problematic and/or dangerous to the user if the device shuts downduring use. Currently, the user's only option is to get the device to acooler environment and lower its internal temperature, usually byremoving it from direct sunlight. Once the device's internal temperaturelowers, it may automatically switch back on, but in the interim there isnothing else for the user to do except to keep the device out of thesun.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The current invention relates to a cooling mount for portable electronicdevices, including, but not limited to, tablets, such as iPADs, iPADAirs and iPAD minis; smart phones, such as iPhones and Android phones;cell phones; and personal computers that will not only extend productlife, but also prevent critical temperature shutdowns and generaloverheating of the device, which can make user contact uncomfortable oreven dangerous. As illustrated and explained further below, the presentinvention is a cooling mount that provides forced air across the rear ofthe portable electronic device using fans and either internal batterypower or external power.

In one implementation, the invention consists of a polygonal housingmade of a rigid material having a front face in the general shape of aportable electronic device for mounting the electronic device on thecooling mount. The housing has a back portion and four sidewalls. Theback portion contains two battery housings, a circuit board and electricfans. The cooling mount is constructed so that the portable electronicdevice, when engaged within the cooling mount, is held away from theback, permitting air flow from the fans to circulate across the back ofthe electronic device to lower its internal temperature.

Optionally, the invention can include a device for fastening the coolingmount to objects. For example, the cooling mount may include a strap forattaching the mount to a user's leg or to clamp for attaching thecooling mount to various objects within a cabin or cockpit, on a dashboard or on objects in the area immediately surrounding the user.

The invention may also optionally include a probe with atemperature-sensitive head that mounts onto the back of a portableelectronic device when it is engaged within the cooling mount. Thetemperature-sensitive probe can detect with the when the ambienttemperature or the temperature of the portable electronic device reachesa certain predetermined level and initiate cooling of the device.

Other devices, apparatus, systems, methods, features and advantages ofthe invention will be or will become apparent to one with skill in theart upon examination of the following figures and detailed description.It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features andadvantages be included within this description, be within the scope ofthe invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The invention may be better understood by referring to the followingfigures. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale,emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of theinvention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one example of an implementation of acooling mount of the present invention as is appears engaged with atablet.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the cooling mount of FIG. 1 withthe tablet removed.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the cooling mount of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective elevation view of the bottom left side of thecooling mount of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a close-up top perspective view the bottom left corner of thecooling mount of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of the cooling mount of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a rear perspective exploded view of the cooling mount of FIG.1 showing one example of a mounting mechanism that may be attached tothe back of the cooling mount.

FIG. 8 illustrates a side perspective view of one example of the coolingmount of FIG. 1 having a mounting mechanism attached to the rear of thecooling mount.

FIG. 9 is a perspective elevation view of the cooling mount of FIG. 1showing an example of an external power supply mounted onto a mountingmechanism.

FIG. 10 is a rear perspective exploded view of the cooling mount of FIG.1 showing an example of another mounting mechanism that may be attachedto the back of the cooling mount.

FIG. 11 is a rear perspective view of the cooling mount of FIG. 1showing the mounting mechanism of FIG. 10 attached to the back of thecooling mount.

FIG. 12 is rear perspective exploded view of the cooling mount of FIG. 1having a temperature sensing device for measuring the temperature of theportable electronic device engaged by the cooling mount.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As illustrated in FIGS. 1-12, the current invention relates to a coolingmount 100 for portable electronic devices 102 that will not only extendproduct life, but also prevent critical temperature shutdowns andgeneral overheating of the devices 102. As illustrated and explainedfurther below, the cooling mount 100 of the present invention houses aportable electronic device 102 in a manner that allows for air flowacross the rear of the device 102 to cool the electronic device duringuse. In one example implementation, fans, powered by internal and/orexternal power sources, may be used in the cooling mount to produceairflow across the back of the device. As further illustrated below, thecooling mount may include a mechanism for fastening the cooling mount toa person or object, may include an external power source for use asprimary or back-up power supply and may also include a temperature probefor monitoring the temperature of the electronic device and/or airsurrounding the device and initiating air flow when predeterminedtemperatures are detected.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one example of an implementation of acooling mount 100 of the present invention as it appears engaged with aportable electronic device 102, which in this example, is a tablet. Asillustrated in FIG. 1, the cooling mount 100 includes a generallypolygonal shaped housing 104 made of a general rigid material having afront face of the general shape of a portable electronic device 102.Although the portable electronic device 102 in FIG. 1 is a tablet, suchas an iPAD, the present invention can be designed of varying sizes andshapes to engage other types and sizes of portable electronic devices102, such smart phones and personal computers. Further the cooling mount100 may include adapters (not shown) for accommodating various types ofthe devices without modifying the overall design.

While the FIG. 1 shows the cooling mount 100 and portable electronicdevice 102 in a portrait orientation, the position of cooling mount 100may easily be changed to a landscape orientation or other orientation,depending on the orientation of the electronic device. Further, althoughthe housing 104 is illustrated as a rectangular polygonal shape, thecooling mount 100 is not so limited in shape and may be designed of anyshaping having a front face for mounting the electronic device 102.

The portable electronic device 102 is mounted on the front face of thecooling mount 100. The front face of the cooling mount 100 includes ageneral raised perimeter 106 having a retaining device 108, 110 forreceiving the retaining the portable electronic device 102 on the frontface of the cooling mount 100. For example, and as illustrated in FIG.1, the device 102 may be retained along various points around itsperimeter by raised 106, channeled 108 or clipping 110 mechanisms thatare positioned along the housing 104 sidewalls securing, hooking and/orclipping the device to the front of the cooling mount 100.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the cooling mount 100 of FIG. 1with the tablet 102 removed. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the cooling mount100 provides a user with the ability to lower the internal and externaltemperatures of the device 102 through of a cooling unit 105, which inthis is example, is a series of fans 112 that blow acrossthermodynamically designed airflow paths 109 through ports 136. In thisexample, the fans 112 are powered by an internal power source 114, whichin this example, are batteries within battery housing. An electroniccircuit board 116 may also be provided to further control the operationof the fans 112 and optionally provide external power to the fans 112from an external power source (not shown). Optionally, and as furtherdescribed below, the electronic circuit board 116 may be incommunication with a temperature sensing device 160 for determining whento turn on and/or off the cooling unit 105 and control other functionsand features of the mount 100 (e.g., power low light indicator).

As illustrated, in this example, the cooling mount 100 includesgenerally inwardly angled side walls 120 that converge toward a recessedcompartment 118 for housing the cooling unit 105, power supply (i.e.batteries) located within the battery housings 114 and circuit board116. To allow for cooling unit 105 in the cooling mount 100 to blow airacross the airflow paths 109, the portable electronic device 102, whenengaged with the cooling mount 100, rests above the fans 112, powersupply (i.e. batteries) located within the battery housings 114 andcircuit board 116. Accordingly, the cooling unit 105 is positioned inthe recessed compartment 118 at the rear of the cooling mount 100 tomaintain a predetermined amount of air space between the back of theelectronic device 102 and recessed compartment 118.

By having the sides walls 120 angle downwardly and inward toward therecessed compartment 118, the portable electronic device is maintain onthe front face of the cooling mount 100, resting against the perimeteredges of the side walls 102 and engaged by raised 106, channeled 108 orclipping 110 mechanisms. Breaks in the sidewalls 120 and the raised 106,channeled 108 or clipping 110 mechanisms allow the portable electronicdevice 102 to be slid easily into the cooling mount 100 and furtherpermits access to such things as the external power port, on/off switch,microphone, speakers, volume controls and/or other buttons on the topand sides of portable electronic device.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the cooling mount 100 of FIG. 1 and bestillustrates the cooling unit 105 and component parts housed in therecessed compartment 118. Shown from the front are the exposed fans 112,battery housings 114 and circuit board 116. When the portable electronicdevice 102 is removed, unhinged or unhooked from the invention, accessto the internal power source (i.e. batteries) located within the batteryhousings 114 becomes readily available. This facilitates the quick andeasy changing of batteries when power is low during operation. FIG. 3also illustrates an external power cord 122 that may be used to connectthe mount 100 to an external power source, which as illustrated inconnection with FIG. 9 below, may be an external battery. Additionally,FIG. 3 illustrates one example of a mounting mechanism 115 that may beconnected to the back of the cooling mount 100, as will be furtherdescribed in connection with FIG. 10 below, for mounting the coolingmount 100 to an object. In this example, the mounting mechanism 115consisting of a ball pivot mechanism 124, a clamping device 126 intowhich the ball pivot fits and a nut adjustment assembly 128.

FIG. 4 is a perspective elevation view of the bottom left side of thecooling mount 100 of FIG. 1. FIG. 4 illustrates an external powerconnection port 130 in the cooling mount housing 104 which may beconnected to an external power source in lieu of battery power and apower switch 132 that provides a means for selecting power input source(either internal or external, e.g., USB or internal batteries). Externalpower can be applied to the invention, for example, through a USB ormicro USB connector 122 (i.e., power switch-over is initiated by a slideswitch). Extended shrouding can protect the micro USB power connector.

FIG. 4 further shows a battery indicator light 134 that in a specificimplementation emits a green light if the internal batteries are in ahigh power condition, a yellow light if the batteries are in a low powercondition and a red color if the batteries need to be replaced. However,in other implementations, the indicator can emit any color or wavelengthof visible light as desired. FIG. 4 also illustrates a battery testbutton 180 for the invention that if pushed allows a user to test thestrength of the internal batteries. While these components areillustrated as positioned on the bottom left side of the cooling mount100, those skilled in the art will recognize that these features may belocated at various locations along the mount 100.

FIG. 5 is a close-up top perspective view the bottom left corner of thecooling mount 100 of FIG. 1 showing the circuit board 116, the recessedcompartment 118 and the side walls 120 and raised 106 and channeled 108mechanism within or upon which the portable electronic device 102 rests.

FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of the cooling mount 100 of FIG. 1illustrating the ventilation holes 138 for the fans 112 and one exampleof a mounting mechanism 115 attached to the cooling mount 100. FIG. 6best illustrates the recessed compartment 118 of the portable coolingmount 100 which houses the fans 112, battery housings 114 and circuitboard 116 outward and away from the back of the electronic device 102.As illustrated in FIG. 6, the recessed compartment 118 includes angledpanels for mounting the fans 112 at an inward angle to blow across thecooling mount 100 and the back of the electronic device 100. FIG. 6illustrates the opposing and angled nature of the series of fans 112directing air flow across the back of the portable electronic device 102when inserted into the cooling mount 100. The air from the fans 112 isvented out of holes or ports 136 on the backing of the cooling mount.The ports 136, as illustrated may be positioned on an angled panelopposing the panel for mounting the fans 112. Also illustrated in FIG. 6is one example of a mounting mechanism 115 for the invention, which inthis case is a mounting plate 140 that is affixed to the back of thehousing 104 of the cooling mount 100 by fasteners 144 a through holes146 in the mounting plate 140.

FIG. 7 is a rear perspective exploded view of the cooling mount 100 ofFIG. 1 showing one example of a mounting mechanism 115 that may beattached to the back of the cooling mount 100. While various mountingmechanisms 115 may be used to mount the cooling mount 100, in thisexample, the mounting mechanism 115 is a leg strap 148 for mounting thecool mount 100 to a user's leg. The mounting mechanism 115 includes amounting plate 140, a leg strap 148 that passes through slots 142 in themounting plate 140 and fasteners 144 a and 144 b that pass through holes146 in the plate 140 for mounting the plate 140 to corresponding holes150 on the back of the cooling mount 100. The strap 148 may be, forexample, an adjustable strap for attaching the cooling mount 100 andportable electronic device 102 directly to a part of the user, such asthe user's leg, or, alternative, a large and stable object. The strap148 may be adjustable and secured by means of Velcro or other fasteningdevice to adjust the position and size of the strap 148 around theobject to which it is mounted.

FIG. 8 shows the mounting mechanism 115 of FIG. 7 affixed to the back ofthe housing 104 of the cooling mount 100. In operation, as explainedabove, the strap 148 attaches the cooling mount 100 and portableelectronic device 102 directly to the user (i.e., the user's leg) or toanother object.

FIG. 9 is a perspective elevation view of the cooling mount 100 of FIG.1 showing an example of an external power supply 152 mounted onto theleg strap 148 of a mounting mechanism 115. Optionally, an external powersource, such as battery pack 152, may be utilized to power the coolingmount 100 or, alternative, provide external power for the portableelectronic device 102. In this example, the mounting mechanisms 115 formounting the cooling mount 100 may include an additional feature forholding and supporting an external power supply 152. The external powerdevice may also be mounted onto the back of the portable tablet coolingdevice (not shown) or at another location on the mounting mechanism 115,such as the mounting plate 140. In use, the internal power source, suchas the batteries pack, may also be charged periodically through thepower port using an external power supply or the back-up battery pack.

FIG. 10 is a rear perspective exploded view of the cooling mount 100 ofFIG. 1 showing another example of a mounting mechanism 115 that may beattached to the back of the cooling mount 100. In this example, themounting mechanism 115 includes a ball pivot mechanism 124, which can beaffixed to the back of the cooling mount housing 104 using fasteners 144a and 144 b that pass through holes 154 in the ball joint assembly 124that engage holes 150 on the back of the housing 104. The ball joint maythen snap into a clamping device 126 with a nut adjustment assembly 128that permits the user to clamp the cooling mount 100 and engagedportable electronic device 102 onto an object within the cabin, cockpitor immediate area surrounding the user (e.g., dashboard) operating aland, air or water vehicle positioned within the reach or vicinity ofthe user. The ball joint 124 permits the cooling mount 100 and device102 to be repositioned easily by allowing for a pivotal mount.

FIG. 11 shows the mounting mechanism of FIG. 10, mounted on the rear ofthe cooling mount housing 104 with fasteners 144 a, with its ball jointsnapped into the clamping device 126. In this example, the ball jointassembly 140 is mounting to the mounting plate 140 rather than directlyto the back of the cooling mount 100. In this manner, the ball jointassembly 140 can be removed to provide access to the leg mount devicewithout requiring the mounting plate of the leg mount to be secured tothe cooling mount 100, facilitating easier interchangeability betweenmounts.

FIG. 12 is rear perspective exploded view of the cooling mount of FIG. 1having a temperature sensing device 160 for measuring the temperature ofthe portable electronic device 102 engaged by the cooling mount 100. Inthis example, a temperature sensing device 160 includes a probe 158 thatmay be positioned on the back of the portable electronic device 102 formonitoring the temperature of the portable electronic device 102. Thetemperature sensor or probe 158 may be in electronic communication withcooling unit 105 and may control the operation of the cooling unit 105based upon measure temperatures of the electronic device 102 and/or theambient air surrounding the device 102. Controls may trigger theoperation of the cooling unit 105 from an on to an off state dependingupon the detected temperatures. Optionally, an in other implementations,applications on the electronic device 102 may be also be able to measurethe internal and/or external temperature of the device 102 andcommunicate such temperature information to the cooling mount 100.

Other features may also be optionally implemented into the cooling mount100 without departing from the scope of the invention. For example,other cooling units or mechanism for cooling the portable electronicdevice, such as induction cooling, may be used in addition to or in lieuof fans. Depending upon the type of cooling unit, contact may be desiredbetween the electronic device 102 and the cooling unit 105. Further, thecooling mount 100 may include WiFi access, Bluetooth and other hardwareand software to facilitate communications between the cooling mount 100and the portable electronic device 102 and the cooling mount 100 and aninternal or external network. Bluetooth, WiFi, radio and or other wiredor wireless communications may be established between the portableelectronic device 102 and the cooling mount 100 to increasefunctionality by placing the cooling mount 100 in signal communicationwith the portable electronic device 102. For example, speakers or otheraccessories may be included in the cooling mount 100 that are accessiblethrough communication between the portable electronic device 102 and thecooling mount 102.

It will be understood that the term “in signal communication” as usedherein means that two or more systems, devices, components, modules, orsub-modules are capable of communicating with each other via signalsthat travel over some type of signal path. The signals may becommunication, power, data, or energy signals, which may communicateinformation, power, or energy from a first system, device, component,module, or sub-module to a second system, device, component, module, orsub-module along a signal path between the first and second system,device, component, module, or sub-module. The signal paths may includephysical, electrical, magnetic, electromagnetic, electrochemical,optical, wired, or wireless connections. The signal paths may alsoinclude additional systems, devices, components, modules, or sub-modulesbetween the first and second system, device, component, module, orsub-module.

More generally, terms such as “communicate” and “in . . . communicationwith” (for example, a first component “communicates with” or “is incommunication with” a second component) are used herein to indicate astructural, functional, mechanical, electrical, signal, optical,magnetic, electromagnetic, ionic or fluidic relationship between two ormore components or elements. As such, the fact that one component issaid to communicate with a second component is not intended to excludethe possibility that additional components may be present between,and/or operatively associated or engaged with, the first and secondcomponents. For purposes of this application, the hardware and/orsoftware necessary to establish signal communication between twocomponents shall be “communications components.”

The foregoing description of an implementation has been presented forpurposes of illustration and description. It is not exhaustive and doesnot limit the claimed inventions to the precise form disclosed.Modifications and variations are possible in light of the abovedescription or may be acquired from practicing the invention. The claimsand their equivalents define the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A mountable cooling mount for engaging a portableelectronic tablet having a touch screen, a camera and having a back, afront and top, bottom, right and left side edges, the cooling mountcomprising: a housing having an outer perimeter that includes hooks orclips for securing the tablet to the front of the cooling mount, whereinthe hooks or clips are positioned on the outer perimeter of the coolingmount and engage at least two opposing edges of either the top, bottom,right and left side edges of the tablet, whereby the tablet, whenengaged by the hooks or clips of the cooling mount extends to the outerperimeter of the housing; the housing further includes a recessedcompartment for engaging the back of the tablet that includes at leastone fan, wherein the at least one fan is positioned to blow air on theback of the tablet when the tablet is mounted to the cooling mount, anda ported angled panel having at least one opening positioned in angledrelationship to, and separated from, the at least one fan for ventingthe air blown from the at least one fan away from the tablet when thetablet is mounted to the cooling mount, and whereby the tablet, whenengaged by the cooling mount, is positioned directly over both the atleast one fan and the at least one opening positioned in angledrelationship to the at least one fan; wherein the recessed compartmentfurther includes an opening for the camera to be viewed through therecessed compartment when the tablet is positioned in the cooling mount;and wherein the cooling mount further includes a central mounting memberon the back of the recessed compartment that is positioned adjacent toat least one fan for engaging a mounting device to mount the coolingmount to support structures for elevating and maintaining the coolingmount in select positions related to the support structures for use ofthe tablet while engaged by the cooling mount.
 2. The mountable coolingmount of claim 1 wherein the at least one fan is powered by an internalpower source.
 3. The mountable cooling mount of claim 1 wherein the atleast one fan is powered by an external power source.
 4. The mountablecooling mount of claim 1 wherein the mounting device is a ball pivotmechanism or a clamping device.
 5. The mountable cooling mount of claim1 wherein the cooling mount further includes a temperature sensor andwherein the at least one fan is turned on when the temperature sensordetects the temperature of the device to be at a certain predeterminedtemperature.
 6. The mountable cooling mount of claim 5 wherein thetemperature sensor includes a probe.
 7. The mountable cooling mount ofclaim 1, wherein the outer perimeter of the housing includes at leastone notch.
 8. A cooling mount for engaging a portable electronic device,where the portable electronic device is a tablet computer having a touchscreen and having a back, a front and top, bottom, right and left sideedges, the cooling mount comprising: a housing having a securingmechanism for mounting a tablet to the front of the cooling mount and arecessed compartment for receiving the back of the tablet, wherein thesecuring mechanism are a plurality of edge mounts about the perimeter ofthe housing for engaging at least two of the top, bottom, right and leftside edges of the tablet and at least one fan mounted in the recessedcompartment for blowing air on the back of the tablet when the tablet ismounted to the cooling mount, wherein the recessed compartment furtherincludes a plurality of openings for venting the air blown from thecooling mount when the tablet is mounted to the cooling mount andwherein the plurality of openings are linearly spaced apart andseparated from the at least one fan on the recessed compartment of thehousing and positioned in a different plane, in angular relationship to,the at least one fan.
 9. The cooling mount of claim 8 wherein thecooling mount further includes a temperature sensor and wherein the atleast one fan is turned on when the temperature sensor detects thetemperature of the tablet to be at a certain predetermined temperature.10. The cooling mount of claim 9 wherein the temperature sensor includesa probe.
 11. The cooling mount of claim 8 wherein the tablet furtherincludes a camera and where the recessed compartment includes an openingfor the camera to operate when the tablet is positioned in the coolingmount.
 12. The cooling mount of claim 8 wherein the perimeter of thehousing includes at least one notch.
 13. A cooling mount for engaging aportable electronic device, the cooling mount comprising: a housinghaving a securing mechanism for mounting an electronic device to thefront of the cooling mount, the housing further including a recessedcompartment for engaging the back of the electronic device and having atleast one fan, wherein the at least one fan is positioned to blow air onthe back of the electronic device when the electronic device is mountedto the cooling mount; the recessed compartment further includes at leastone opening positioned in angled relationship to the fan to vent the airfrom the fan, wherein the portable electronic device, when positioned inthe cool mount is positioned over both the at least one fan and the atleast one opening positioned in angled relationship to the fan.
 14. Thecooling mount of claim 13 wherein the at least one fan is powered by aninternal power source.
 15. The cooling mount of claim 14 wherein theinternal power source is comprised of at least one battery.
 16. Thecooling mount of claim 15 wherein the cooling mount further includes abattery indicator light.
 17. The cooling mount of claim 15 wherein thecooling mount further includes a battery test button.
 18. The coolingmount of claim 15 wherein the at least one battery can be replaced byanother battery.
 19. The cooling mount of claim 14 wherein the internalpower supply is replaceable and wherein the internal power supply isaccessible from the front of the cooling mount.